Coronavirus Branford: 'Help Out' With 'Take Out'

BRANFORD, CT — A simple yet effective and generous way to really help out with some take-out.

HELP OUT - TAKE OUT supports both struggling local restaurants and Branford residents who have lost jobs due to the pandemic.

A joint effort of Branford Rotary Club and Branford Counseling & Community Services, the program purchases gift cards from local restaurants and distributes them to Branford residents who are out of work as a result of the coronavirus.

Branford Rotary has donated $10,000 to start HELP OUT – TAKE OUT, and hopes to quickly ramp-up the program with donations from the community.

If you lost your job or cannot work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible to receive a gift card.

"Each dollar raised during this campaign is extremely effective and far-reaching,” said Rotarian Richard Shanahan, Co-Chair of HELP OUT – TAKE OUT. “It provides meals to our local residents, it provides financial and moral support to restaurant owners, and it helps to maintain the social fabric of our community."

BCCS Executive Director Peter Cimino called the program timely and needed, as his office has seen a surge in unemployed looking for assistance.

“People are worried about their futures and their families, and restaurants in particular have been hard hit by this crisis,” Cimino said. “Having a program that can help people who’ve lost their incomes, while at the same time saving our vital restaurant community, really shows you what people in this town can do when they work together.”

Branford residents who have been furloughed or lost their jobs due to the pandemic can apply for the program by visiting Branford Counseling & Community Services:
https://www.branford-ct.gov/departments/counseling-center/covid19.

The Branford Community Foundation gave HELP OUT – TAKE OUT a $10,000 grant.

“We thought HELP OUT – TAKE OUT is such an amazing project, helping both small businesses that have been suffering so much, and at the same time giving support to people in the community,” said Heather Hackley, Chair of the BCF Board of Directors. “The Board saw it has a dual-effect, and felt it was very worthwhile to fund.”

With funds from Branford Rotary and BCF, as well as ongoing public donations, the program has to-date collected $25,000, making HELP OUT – TAKE OUT a true community effort.

"We’re so grateful to the Branford Community Foundation for generously funding HELP OUT – TAKE OUT, and for the incredible support they’ve so rapidly mobilized for our town during this pandemic,” said Ellen Carucci, co-chair of HELP OUT – TAKE OUT.

The grant comes from BCF’s “Branford Has Heart” program, set up to support the town during the coronavirus outbreak. The initiative has been readily embraced, collecting more than $141,000 to date, said Hackley.

“What that shows you is the town really does come together when there is a need,” she added. “Branford really does have a heart.”

The project was launched with an initial group of 12 local restaurants – establishments that are themselves giving back by voluntarily providing extra gift cards.

“Every single dollar helps, both with the restaurants and for people who are truly in need,” said John Sousoulas, owner of the Parthenon Diner. “These gift cards will help us replenish some of the food we’ve been using, and cover the bills we have to pay. I know we all appreciate what the Rotary is doing to help the community get through this.”

In short order, the Club plans to expand HELP OUT - TAKE OUT to include more restaurants and provide support to more Branford residents. But to keep it going – to keep the community healthy and thriving – the public has a role to play.

Participating restaurants are:

Alegres Café
Café Fiore
The Chowder Pot III
Donovan‘s Reef
Eli’s
Guacamole’s
Home
Il Forno
Marco's Pizzeria
Parthenon Diner
Rosso Vino
The Stand

Apply for a gift card here. And to donate, click here.